The Ministry of Haj is working on a plan to reduce the cost of Haj by 50 percent for domestic pilgrims next year, according to an official source. To achieve this, the source said the ministry would reduce the rent it charges for its camps. If this happens then local Haj companies will also have to reduce their fees. Sa'ad Jamil Al-Qurashi, Chairman of the Unified National Committee for Haj and Umrah, said costs have skyrocketed because the ministry's rental fees are 300 times more than that of Tawafa establishments. Another reason for the rise in prices is that the ministry delays handing over the camps to local Haj companies, which results in them spending more money to prepare the sites for pilgrims. He said the ministry usually only hands over the sites in the middle of the month of Dhul Qada. Al-Qurashi said higher food and air travel costs have also contributed to the high cost of Haj for local pilgrims. He said the ministry must reduce its costs to help local pilgrims. For example, the ministry used to charge SR1,200 for one tent but now charges SR7,500, SR5,500 and SR1,500 for groups A, C and H respectively. He said the ministry's “Low Cost Pilgrimage” is helping, but more can be done to slash costs further. A cheaper Haj for local pilgrims will see less illegal attempts to enter Makkah and ensure fewer pilgrims sleep out in the open, said Al
